signals

You need to give signals to tell other road users what you intend to do.They are not clairvoyant and need to know what your intentions are..Not only should you give signals but also react to signals given by other road users.They should be given in good time so as to allow other road users to see them and act on them.If you are going to turn left and you give the signal late you will have to brake late causing any driver behind you to do the same.If you give a left hand signal too soon you will tell anyone behind you that you are going to park on the left.They will react to this and overtake you which is dangerous as you have now put the other driver in the middle of the road needlessly.You should also give signals to change lanes as you are going to possibly move out in front of another car if there is a safe gap to fit into.

Signals are not only given by traffic but people as well.There could be road works and someone is controlling the traffic.Police and traffic wardens also give signals to control the direction of the traffic.

Traffic lights also give signals.They tell traffic to go or stop and allow pedestrians also to cross the road.If you are approaching a set of traffic lights that have been showing green for sometime slow down a bit and be prepared to stop.The steady amber light also means stop if safe to do so.

In the picture to the left the filter light to the left is showing green allowing traffic to turn left.The traffic going ahead is on a separate light and has to wait.If the lights were now to turn green you could go now.Think again there is still a car in the middle of the lights waiting to turn.You can only proceed if your path is clear regardless of the green light.I have heard of countless people explaining to the police that when they hit a car that had not cleared the lights,but the lights were green officer.Only to be told that you will now be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention and anything you say will be written down and maybe used in evidence in a court of law.